Ex-N.L. Liquor Corp. boss issued $60,000 severance

Former Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corp. (NLC) president and CEO Steve Winter. - The Telegram

Minister issues compensation numbers — now official

Former head of the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation (NLC), Steve Winter, was issued 13 weeks’ severance after the provincial government’s decision to fire him without cause in early January.

He was also issued one year’s pay, as a payment in lieu of notice for his dismissal. According to the last public compensation disclosure report, covering to the end of 2016, Winter’s base salary was $239,300.

“Which is consistent with what was offered to Ms. Sparkes when the decision was made to release her of her duties,” said Finance Minister Tom Osborne, referring to Sharon Sparkes, the former chief financial officer at the NLC who has since returned as the NLC’s interim president and CEO.

“It’s consistent of what would be paid to an executive of the NLC,” Osborne said.

The Telegram was told any pay for accumulated vacation time would not be shared for privacy reasons, with that decision following consultations with legal counsel and the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner.

The minister had previously told The Telegram Winter’s compensation was not available for privacy reasons.

“I don’t think government ever provides the details of those amounts,” he said at the time.

In follow-up, the exact figures were not yet available and Osborne said he held back on further comment between then and now because he did not want to release estimated amounts, only to have to correct them once the official figures were available.